Every year, the Oscars roll out the red carpet to honor the best films and performances in Hollywood. But have you ever wondered who actually picks the winners of the most prestigious awards in the film industry? Behind all the glitz and glamour is a voting process that determines Hollywood’s biggest achievements—but surprisingly, not many people know how it really works.
The very first Academy Awards ceremony happened on May 16, 1929, in a small Hollywood banquet room. Back then, it was nothing like the global event we see today—just an intimate gathering of industry insiders. Since then, over 3,000 golden Oscar statuettes have been handed out to filmmakers, actors, and crew members across various categories. And at the heart of it all is the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).
This organization, made up of over 10,500 members from all over the world, is responsible for deciding who walks away with the coveted Oscar each year. But getting into the Academy isn’t as simple as signing up—membership is exclusive and invite-only.
Who gets to vote for the Oscars?
Not just anyone in the film industry can vote for the Oscars. Unlike a club where you can apply for membership, AMPAS only accepts new members through invitations from its Board of Governors. To even be considered, a candidate needs to be sponsored by two existing Academy members from the same industry branch (such as directors sponsoring another director or actors recommending an actor).
Even then, there are strict requirements. For example, actors need to have at least three significant film credits that meet the Academy’s high standards before they can be considered. However, if someone gets an Oscar nomination, they are automatically reviewed for membership.
How do the Oscar nominations and voting work?
The nomination process is also in the hands of AMPAS members, but there’s a catch: members can only nominate people from their own profession. That means directors nominate directors, actors nominate actors, and so on. This ensures that only industry experts judge each category.
When it comes to the final voting, though, every active AMPAS member gets to vote across all categories. That said, if a member feels like they aren’t qualified to judge a particular category, they can skip voting in that one.
Members cast their votes online in a secure system. Most categories are decided by a simple majority—whoever gets the most votes wins. But the Best Picture category, which is considered the highest honor of the night, follows a different process known as the “preferential ballot.”
Each year, up to 10 films are nominated for Best Picture. Instead of picking just one, voters must rank them from their most favorite to least favorite. For a film to win, it needs to get more than 50% of the votes.
If no film reaches that threshold in the first round, the movie with the least votes is eliminated. The people who ranked that film as their top choice then have their votes transferred to their second-choice movie. This elimination process continues until one film crosses the 50% mark and is crowned Best Picture.
So, who knows the Oscar winners before the big night? Surprisingly, only two people. These are senior partners at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), the accounting firm that has been handling the Academy’s voting process since 1935. They’re the ones responsible for counting the votes and preparing the famous sealed envelopes that presenters open on stage.
Over the years, filmmaking styles and trends have evolved, but the Oscars have remained a symbol of excellence in cinema. With such a rigorous voting system that involves experts from all corners of the industry, the awards continue to shine a spotlight on the best and most influential films of the year. Whether you agree with the winners or not, one thing is certain—the Oscars will always be Hollywood’s biggest night.